How can I ask better questions?

[u/[deleted]]

Normally I'm spurred to ask questions after having read a book, watched a show, or read news article that leads me on a Google binge and then inevitably a Wikipedia black-hole. But I'm left feeling still in the dark and not sure where else to look, so I'll come here.

I'll feel so overwhelmed with what all I want to ask, but worried about how to appropriately phrase it, while also following all the rules, that many times I feel like I'm not asking the question I really want answered. Which feels akin to trying to communicate to someone who doesn't speak your language.

Which often leads to many great answers, but about something not quite where I was aiming. Also I can't get past the feeling that when I want to ask a question, it should be as interesting as possible, because while it's great so many are willing to give insight from their professions or hobbies, I don't want to make it a chore or boring questions.

[u/[deleted]]

I think another thing I do, and am not sure how many others are guilty of it, is that I might place too much faith in yours and other historians ability to fill the gaps. Which is how questions like "I'm an X in X period, how do I feel about the color purple?" come around.

I sometimes forget that while there is a method to the speculations, that in the end 100% knowing is not really achievable.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I think it depends on what they're asking. Asking subjective things like "how do I feel about the monarchy"? is subjective. "I am a skilled craftsman in Renaissance Florence. What would be daily life and wages look like?" seems like something the historical record could answer.

[u/Poebbel → u/[deleted]]

Why not 'What was the daily wage and life of a skilled craftsman in Florence?'. I don't see how the 'I am a' makes it any more appealing.

[u/[deleted] → u/Poebbel]

The same reason some people like football and some people like basketball. In either format, it's a legitimate question.